Well...It Looked Good.

A chilly start and we hoped for some good numbers today. Not to be. Our first bird was a Gray Catbird just after the Dawn Chorus.



Next up was a ragged Hermit Thrush which was another new migrant for the day.



Bowl and Doily Spiders are making themselves noticeable as the weather cools. The larger web on top brings in insects while the the actual spider waiting for food waits in the second web beneath to grab their meal.



We were always open to transfer Rouge Plants growing on the opposite of the river to our side. Seems like the birds are doing it for us as the first one just popped up next to Net 9.jpg



We are training new banders as we head into the end of the year. Today, Andrew asks Angela to step up to the table to process a recaptured Hermit Thrush.



This was an adult Hermit Thrush captured earlier in the year.



We had hoped to get others involved with banding training but the birds did not cooperate. Angela seemed happy enough with her first bird handled at the table.



Swamp Maples are the most common in the state but sometimes we have other varieties in the area. This one glows bright red every Fall on the opposite side of the river.



As Andrew checked out Area 21, he spotted a mangey Raccoon creeping through the vegetation along the river. We later spotted it close to the table as we closed nets for the morning.



Birds seem few and far between, again, but we always hope for more activity as the weather warms going into the next weekend.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, December 8th.
All nets will be opened by 6:35 A.M.

Migrants Beginning To Move

Happy April! This is the time the migrants start getting restless and start feeding and gradually start on their way North. Even though we had to deal with some wind, again, it was an interesting mix of birds today, all of them migrants

The first bird of the day was a recaptured Hermit Thrush.



Eric and Hannah were our new visitors today and they both got to release a bird or two.



We should be catching northbound Gray Catbirds for the rest of the month.



Last week we wondered where the Ovenbirds were and this week we got one.



Our bird of the day was a Swainson's Warbler. Several were banded during our stint at Wekiwa Springs but this is the first we have banded here at Lake Lotus.



Out where Net 21 used to be, Golden Aster is now moving in to reclaim some of the area after Hurricane Irma scoured everything out last Fall.



Checking on the trail cam shows that last week was a busy time for the Raccoons. They were the dominate capture whether at night...



...or during the day.



Opossums were also wandering back and forth.



This area also sees and large gathering of Squirrels from Net 10 down toward the lake.



Our final bird of the morning was a Louisiana Waterthrush. With Net 21 out of play it was feared that we would miss them in the Spring but they are traveling up and down the river this year.



Numbers typically ramp up from here into early May. Only a couple weeks from Earth Day!
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, April 8th.
All nets will be opened by 6:35 A.M.

A Nice Variety Before the Wind

A good chance that anything could happen today so we set out as usual to get what we could before the wind kicked up as the day broke. Our first bird of the day was an Eastern Screech Owl. It was a recaptured bird that we first banded nearly a year ago. They always look so sleepy when in the hand but it quickly flew off after the data was collected.



As we were discussing how the House Wrens were occasionally being heard but not caught, we did manage to get one.



We did get two Northern Cardinals today. One male was a recaptured (photo not worth the while) and a female that was showing a brood patch.



We are getting near the end of Thrush captures so it was nice to had a Hermit Thrush today.



Despite knowing that it is the start of gator breeding season, Andrew took one more trip out toward the lake since it was a bit cool. The most interesting find was that a flock of Cedar Waxwings were out in the willows picking at all sorts of items.



It was difficult to get some good shots as the wind was picking up but we were lucky to catch a flight shot showing the wax tips on the tail feathers.



Seeing some scat on the make-shift walkway where the lane floods made us wonder as to the animal that left a present. Time to check the trail cam. We know Andrew as he sets nets before dawn...



...but who is this dude showing up the day before walking the trail on a closed property on a Saturday?



An earlier night found the raccoon family parading toward the lake.



Possums was beginning to increase their activity in the middle of the night.



The thought that the scat animal was a Bobcat was later confirmed. Many shots in the daylight and night showed our cat strolling through the area in the next 2 days.



What this is...we are not sure. Shot seems to not be a possum. Too bulky. Thoughts?



We did get a couple more birds before the winds shut us down. Always nice to get a Ruby-crowned Kinglet recapture. We might be getting more as we head toward Spring migration.



Connie had a bird at Net 20. She thought it was possibly a Thrush species. Well, she was close. At least by name. She had returned with a Louisiana Waterthrush (actually a warbler) that make a rare appearance in early August and moving back through in the Spring. A nice end to the day!



Weather forecasts are all over the place. Next Sunday is Easter and April Fools Day. Interesting...
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Easter Sunday, April 1st. No foolin'...
All nets will be opened by 6:45 A.M.

Still Quiet

Still quiet in the area but at least we have the Supermoon to look at. It was nice and bright as it set this morning before dawn. This photo was taken about 12 hours later in downtown Orlando.



At least we could be happy with the results of yesterday's AAC Championship game as UCF defeated Memphis to become the only undefeated college football team in the country. Andrew decided to represent by swapping out hats today.



Our first bird of the morning was a recaptured House Wren. All birds captured today were recaptures. Birds were around from time to time but decided to feed high in the trees all morning.



Aislin and Angelo joined us this morning and helped record info for the wren and the next bird, a Hermit Thrush.



Out by the lake, several Swamp Sparrows chased one another along the shoreline.



The final bird of the day was an Ovenbird.



Just after we released the bird at the table, Connie spotted a Raccoon ambling in our direction. It finally noticed us and made a course correction toward Net 3. It then scurried up a tree as we approached for a close-up. A couple of minutes later it climbed down and headed up the lanes. We noticed several dug up turtle nests along the lanes. Little guy has been busy.



One bright spot after the disappointing capture rate was more and more returning Hooded Mergansers all over the region. We don't band them but they are fun to watch.



More Yellow-rumps and Palm Warblers are around with more to come. Perhaps next Sunday will be a productive day. Suppose to be on the chilly side, though.

NOTE: We will not be banding December 10th due to weather. Forecast is for temperatures in the mid 30s with higher winds making it more dangerous for birds if lingering in nets.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, December 17th.
All nets will be opened by 6:35 A.M.

Trail Cam in May

As we left for the end of Session 9 we grabbed the card from the trail cam an headed home to see if we captured anything of interest. One of the few daytime shots was one of the numerous Raccoons.



However, most of the action happens at night. Mammals come out in search of prey. They are always a mix, like this Coyote we have captured a shot of a few times already. We knew it was around because of scat findings and it is nice to have actual documentation.



Opossum are a little harder to catch as they sprint through the site lines of the camera. It could be a potential food item for that Coyote seen earlier in the night.



We are always excited to see our Bobcat wandering by on its jaunts around the property.



The strangest capture of the month was something more common. A domestic House Cat. What? Could be a feral stray or a pet of the neighbors just over the fence.



We also had a couple of backs of humans that shouldn't be there. Definitely not rangers, but someone who made it over to this side. We will let the camera 'soak' for June and see what strolls by during the month while we are away.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, August 6th.
All nets will be opened by 6:20 A.M.

Overcast, Windy, but Some Color

Migrants finally started hitting the peninsula last week so we were hoping for some better activity at the banding site. Alas, the overcast skies didn't deliver as hoped and the winds picked up and reduced capture chances even more. One sign that migration is ramping up was the flocks of Cedar Waxwings scarfing down wild cherries near the banding table. When they hit that tree it is usually the last time we see them until they return near the end of the year.



At one point later in the day, the Sun broke through the clouds briefly as the birds settled on a snag for a break.



We eventually captured our first bird which was a female Downy Woodpecker. It was a recapture and was first banded almost the same day six years ago.



Next up was a new female Northern Cardinal. It has been a while since we have banded a new female. Typically it is males that are moving in.



The one notable migrant species on the property were American Redstarts. Males were feeding low in the shrubs and calling like crazy. One male kept feeding around Net 1 and eventually it flew straight in the net as we watched.



Nick spotted 4 Swallow-tailed Kites circling overhead near the pines where they nested a few years ago. We only got one shot but it appears this bird is holding a clump of moss which they use to build their nest. Fingers are crossed that they pick the nearby trees again. Just before this photo was snapped we had a quick fly over of a Roseate Spoonbill! Never had that before.



Christine and Susan were checking the nets and found a Green Treefrog, (Hyla cinerea), clinging to the pole at Net 21. Nice to find the native species instead of the Cuban invasives.



Our final bird of the day was a male Northern Parula. The males are super busy feeding the chicks which are begging all over the place.



Later in the day, Andrew checked the SD card from our trail cam. No Coyote or bear this week. Mostly is was Raccoons...



...and many Opossum.



Most of the shots triggered during the day were made as the wind tossed the shadows around but we did get a nice shot of a Raccoon strolling by.



But a couple of shots that caused and audible gasp were that of the critter we were hoping to get last week. Our Bobcat, (Lynx rufus). we have long surmised that this what was using the spot as its restroom for a couple of years and now we have our definitive proof.



Photos from the following day were even more awe inspiring. The Bobcat in the daylight! What a lovely creature. So amazing that all of this wildlife lives on the property and you never see them in person.



According to our records over the years, the next two weeks should yield some fun birds as the last of the migrants head North to their breeding locations. You never know what will show up but last year we captured several Connecticut Warblers. We shall see.
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Next (planned) Banding Day: Sunday, May 7th.
All nets will be opened by 6:10 A.M.